# cast a chill

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/cast-a-chill
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To provoke an uneasy feeling which stops a conversation, as by an uncalled act or word.

## Examples

- His rude comment cast a chill over the entire room.
- When she mentioned the unpaid debts, it cast a chill over the dinner party and everyone stopped talking.
- The sudden, unexpected arrival of the estranged brother cast a chill over the gathering, silencing the laughter that had filled the hall only moments before.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.